Natasha Allen-Hallyburton, Lactation Consultant - IBCLC

18/11/2025

Another paper from Abi Wheeler's soon to be submitted PhD looking at how, amongst women scoring high for birth trauma symptoms, breastfeeding experience really matters.

For women who wanted to breastfeed, being able to helped ease their experiences of birth trauma, whereas when breastfeeding difficulties arose, this could exacerbate birth trauma.

Lots of women experienced pressure to give formula, particularly if milk supply was taking time (which can happen after a difficult birth). The study is likely weighted towards those who wanted to breastfeed, but it again highlights the importance of asking women about their breastfeeding / feeding goals and working with them to meet those, rather than always trying to solve breastfeeding complications with formula

Full paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266613825003845

26/09/2025

Colostrum is important!

31/07/2025

“You did this to yourself.”
That’s what a woman said when I mentioned I was tired the other day.

Actually her words were “you screwed yourself girlfriend” and “try giving her a bottle”

Because I co-sleep.
Because I breastfeed.
Because I chose presence over convenience.

Yes, I’m tired.
But I didn’t “screw myself.”
I surrendered. Willingly.

There is a sacrifice in mothering this way…
in being the anchor at 3am,
regulating your babes nervous system while taking care of your soul as well,
the arms that never fully clock out.

But sacrifice doesn’t mean self-erase
I haven’t lost myself.
In fact, parts of me have only awakened through this surrender.

This path asks so much.
And still, it’s the one that feels right to me.

To the mothers walking this edge
of service and selfhood,
of devotion and fatigue

I see you.
You’re not wrong.
You’re not alone.
You’re just deep in it.

Raising the next generation.

And that is sacred. 💛

27/03/2025

This will be such a valuable group to be part of!

Let’s do this! I’m so excited to announce I’m running my first Solihull parenting group next month! We will cover topics including sleeping, feeding, development, connection and so much more. The best part? You get to connect with like-minded parents and form connections. Comment “parent” and I’ll message you all of the info. I can’t wait to learn with you all. 🧠💪🏻🥰

20/06/2024

💗ADHD & MOTHERHOOD💗

This is such a great illustration of why so many women with ADHD seem to manage ok in life right up until motherhood comes along.

💗Does this reflect your experience? It sure reflects mine!

2303 likes, 202 comments. “I made it to 35 without even an inkling that I have ADHD. Motherhood tipped me over the edge, it put such a demand on my executive functioning that was beyond my ability to cope with. For many women they grt into their 50s. And it’s only due to increased information (d...

18/06/2024

💗BREAST SURGERY💗

Breast reduction surgery and/or breast lift is associated with an increased risk of breastfeeding problems,
particularly low milk supply

One study found that 73% of women who had undergone breast reduction surgery reported insufficient milk compared to 40% of those who hadn’t

So if you’ve had breast surgery be aware that you may need extra support to achieve your breastfeeding goals

A 1:1 antenatal breastfeeding consultation can help you plan and prepare to give yourself the best chance of creating a full milk supply and reaching your breastfeeding goals

💗 Message me to book a consultation today

12/06/2024

💗INFANT MENTAL HEALTH 💗

This week is Infant Mental Health Week from June 10-16 2024

Building a secure attachment relationship between children and their parents or caregivers is the foundation of good infant mental health.

This secure attachment is built through:

💗paying attention to babies and their attempts to communicate

💗 Responding sensitively to babies cues

💗 Responding promptly to babies cries

💗 both day and night!

Children who are securely attached to their parents are more likely to:

💗 Be able to cope well with stress
💗 Have satisfying relationships
💗 Have healthy self-esteem
💗 Reach their full intellectual potential
💗 Have fewer behavioural problems
💗 Have fewer discipline problems
💗 Have fewer problems separating from parents when it is developmentally appropriate.

So I’m here to call out the ‘experts’ who advise you to leave your baby to cry. It is completely wrong to advise parents that to routinely ignore a baby’s cries does no harm.

But this doesn’t mean we have to be perfect or meet babies needs immediately 100% of the time in order for them to be ok. That’s impossible and unrealistic.

We just have to try our best to respond to our babies when we can, so that we can give them the best chance to grow up to be resilient, self confident and with good mental health

💗 Have you been given advice to ignore your baby’s cries?

https://www.aaimh.org.au/resources/position-statements-and-guidelines/AAIMHI-Position-paper-2-(2016)-Responding-to-infant-cues-(1).pdf

https://www.aaimh.org.au/media/website_pages/resources/position-statements-and-guidelines/sleep-position-statement-AAIMH_final-March-2022.pdf

05/06/2024

💗 FINDING YOUR TRIBE 💗

I’ve been having lots of conversations in my DMs about the friendship dynamics in motherhood and the importance of finding other parents with similar parenting values as your own

Being able to talk with people who get it, who understand why you choose to care for your child the way you do (even when it’s hard!), who are supportive and kind and who won’t tell you to change what you’re doing is SO important to motherhood and your mental health. As humans we were never meant to mother in isolation. Our wellbeing is dependant on being connected with others.

You’ll come across other parents in lots of different places and settings. Some will share your parenting philosophies and others won’t. Either way these are some questions to ask yourself after you’ve spent time with other mums, to help you gauge whether they are the right fit for you or not

💗 What side of you did this person bring out? Did you feel like you could be your authentic self or did you act differently to normal?

💗 How did your body feel while you were with them? Was your gut clenched? Were you fidgety and restless? Or did you feel physically relaxed ?

💗 Do you feel more energised after you spend time with this person? Or exhausted and depleted?

💗 Did you feel heard? Were your thoughts, feelings and perspectives listened to and accepted? Did that person seem as interested in you as you are in them?

💗 Did you feel engaged and interested and connected? Or bored, uncomfortable or awkward?

💗 Most importantly how do you feel about yourself after spending time with this person? Do you more confident and feel good about yourself? Or did you come away feeling negative or unsure or confused about yourself as a parent and the values and choices you’ve made ?

Checking in with your feelings after spending time with other parents can keep you grounded and help you find YOUR people. Your tribe. Your village.

💗 Have you found your tribe? Or do you feel alone in parenting your baby or child?